News you can use from the USPS, National Consumer Protection Week, March 7–13, 2010

National Consumer Protection Week, March 7–13, 2010

News you can use from the USPS

Greenfield, WI: “Dollars and Sense” — Don’t fall for the Mystery Shopper Scam!

It’s a new twist on the “fake check” scam: People across the country are receiving letters in the mail — accompanied by fat checks — inviting them to earn extra money as mystery shoppers.

The letter invites you to become a paid mystery shopper in your area and the letterhead and check appear to come from a legitimate U.S. company. The listed phone numbers, however, originate in Canada.

Here’s how it works: the letter instructs you to deposit the check — for, say, $3,750 — into your checking account, wire $3,150 using a company like Western Union or Money Gram, keep $300 as pay, take out $200 for wiring fees, and use $100 to purchase merchandise. Then you’re told to contact the person named in the letter for further instructions.

Sounds like an easy way to make money, right? But if you deposit the check, you’ll get a notice from the bank that it bounced. And you’re left holding the bag for the $3,750. Postal Inspectors advise that if you receive this offer, do NOT respond. Instead, report the incident to Postal Inspectors at 877-876-2455 or file a report online at

https:// postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx.